8 tips every adult needs to know about social media

Social media is a relatively new phenomenon that, over the last few years, has changed the way we communicate in an unprecedented way.

Whatever your age, and whether you yourself are a user or you often watch your friends and family members glued to their screens, it's almost impossible to ignore the influence of the social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

For better or for worse, social media influences the news agenda, it provides a platform for the everyday person to project their opinion to the world, it reconnects us with long-lost friends and it's given a whole new meaning to the word 'viral'.

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So, whether you find it an intimidating minefield of hashtags, emojis and food videos or you embrace it for being innovative and fast-paced, why not equip yourself with the knowledge to make social media not just a young person's arena.

Country Living digital editor, Emma-Louise Pritchard, shares her top social media tips for those who want to master this never-ending trend…

Emma-Louise will be speaking about all things social media at our Build-A-Business Day in Edinburgh on 7 February. To find out more about our Build-A-Business Days, where budding entrepreneurs can learn the skills to turn their hobby into a business, visit our information pages.

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1. Get your privacy settings sorted

Many people are worried about opening up their lives to the internet via social media. But every user has control of what they want other people to see.

On Facebook, you can manage your privacy using the Settings buttons in the top right corner of your profile page. Here, you can select options and decide who can see your posts and who can contact you through Facebook. You can also block people from seeing your profile.

There is a similar Settings area for Twitter and Instagram. It is worth familiarising yourself with them and getting to know your options.

2. Review what goes on your timeline before it goes up

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Another handy Facebook trick, which you can find in Settings > Timelines and Tagging (see image above), is turning on the option which allows you to review photos, statuses, tags and comments that include you before they appear on your profile. See the options in the image below...

These posts will still appear on the profile of whoever posted them, but you can tailor your own how you wish.

Facebook

3. Remember you are in control

Like any other form of communication, people have different styles. Some people post regularly to social media and share even the smallest details of their lives, where others might be more reserved. There is no pressure to post or to engage with anything on Facebook unless you want to. Find a way of using it that you enjoy and that suits your values and routine.

4. Pictures

If you are using Facebook or Instagram to promote something – for example your business, latest craft project or delicious-looking food – make sure the images are high quality and do your project justice.

In fact, for any topic, you'll find that good-quality images get a lot more engagement from friends, family and perhaps potential customers, so take the time to choose your best shot.

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The tech lingo:

Many social media users will apply 'filters' to their photos to make them appear more stylised. Both Facebook and Instagram give you the option to add a filter to your photo before you post it. But it can be easy to get carried away and, if you have a great picture of your craft, don't feel the need to put a filter on it – let the original colours speak for themselves.

Sharing other people's content is good for two reasons. Firstly, if you are feeling a bit shy but want to get involved and give your opinion on a particular topic, you can share someone else's if they have summed it up for you. It also brings funny and interesting content to your Facebook Friends that they may not have seen.

Secondly, if you are a business, it's a great way to get your name out there. This is because, if you share another brand's post, they will be notified and your business name will be brought to their attention. If you've got a business Facebook page, ask your Friends to share your news, too.

You should use sharing to align yourself with things you believe in, spread messages that need to be spread, and put a smile on your Friend's faces.

The tech lingo:

On Facebook, sharing someone else's content is simply called a 'share'. On Twitter, this is called a 'retweet'. On Instagram, it's called a 'regram'. On Pinterest, it's a 'pin'.

6. Use it for inspiration

Whether you're redecorating a room in the house, looking for a new recipe for an upcoming dinner party or are in need of a new winter coat, social media is an excellent search tool and easy way to get ideas.

Instagram and Pinterest are the best for this – simply search for your topic.

The tech lingo:

The 'hashtag' is a search tool that's used across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It allows you to search for a specific topic or campaign and, if your post includes a hashtag, it allows your posts to be searched for.

For example, if you search for #interiordesign, you will get a list of all the posts which include that hashtag. If you have a picture of a lovely room design which you want to share, you could add #interiordesign in the comment section and then other interior design enthusiasts can easily see your work.

Hashtags you should follow...

When a hashtag is used by a big majority of people on social media, it 'trends'. And, because social media is a live feed, what is 'trending' changes all the time. The below hashtags trend regularly and are worth following and searching for…

#crafthour - this trends on Twitter every Sunday at 7pm, so it's a good time to post tweets about your craft and look at other people's work. Just make sure you add #crafthour to your tweet.

#dogsofinstagram - this is an Instagram hashtag perfect for those who want to browse through endless pictures of adorable dogs.

#mondaymotivation - this trends, unsurprisingly, every Monday and is full of happy, funny and motivational content to help you start your week. You can find it mainly on Twitter and Instagram.

The idea of an 'internet troll' – the name given to people who leave negative or spam comments on social media – is enough to put some people off. But, it's important to remember that, even though the internet is an unseen world, it's the same as any other form of communication. And how are we taught to deal with bullies in real life? Ignore them.

Reacting to trolls on the internet encourages them to continue so, if you encounter any, refrain from doing so. Or, to nip it in the bud on Facebook, simply block them from your profile (you can do this in the Settings areas we mentioned in point one).

You can also 'hide' particular comments from your posts – simply hover over the comment and look for the grey arrow on the right-hand side.